Chargers make cuts

[joelbolt]

The Chargers have waived P Bill LaFleur, WRs Ruvell Martin, Grant Mattos and Luke Powell, RBs Doug Chapman and Calvin Murray, CB Kevin House, SS Vernon Fox, FB Phillip Crosby, C Troy Andrew, TE Joshua Norman, DEs Omari Hand and Robert Pollard.

The Chargers also placed defensive tackle Ryon Bingham on the “Reserve-Injured” list. Bingham is recovering from surgery for a torn biceps tendon.

On Monday, the team waived K Mackenzie Hoambrecker.

[xnet]

Originally posted by: joelbolt
The Chargers have waived P Bill LaFleur, WRs Ruvell Martin, Grant Mattos and Luke Powell, RBs Doug Chapman and Calvin Murray, CB Kevin House, SS Vernon Fox, FB Phillip Crosby, C Troy Andrew, TE Joshua Norman, DEs Omari Hand and Robert Pollard.

The Chargers also placed defensive tackle Ryon Bingham on the “Reserve-Injured” list. Bingham is recovering from surgery for a torn biceps tendon.

On Monday, the team waived K Mackenzie Hoambrecker.


It's a shame to see Mattos go... He's got great hands and could be a possession receiver like Dwight used to be. Any news on Floyd? How exactly did he get his injury?

[joelbolt]

I have always wondered what the knock on Mattos is. He seems to have great hands in practice. I know that Malcolm Floyd is making good progress so that might have something to do with it.

[IronMountain1960]

Joel, who makes the decisions on WR cuts, is it Marty or Lofton? I always thought it was the position coach, if so, I know you like Lofton, but I can't understand why guys like Gilliam and Mattos get cut, when they catch everypass thrown their way, and guys like Reche make the team. It seems to me that Lofton thinks speed is more important then hands or toughness, and catching the ball is optional.

[kiwibolt]

I could not agree more with you on this one Iron Mtn. I am sick and tired of Charger receivers dropping more balls than they catch. I believe that Brees would be established and successful as a QB if we had any receivers on the roster who could actually catch the ball the past 2 seasons. How is a QB supposed to find his rythmn in the pocket when every other pass he throws is a drop and he is getting bashed in the head by the D-line EVERY throw? Mattos seemed to have great hands. The chargers haven't had a possession receiver who caught the ball since they had Darren Flutie a few years back. That dude caught EVERYTHING. But, I guess he didn't run a 4.2 and he probably didn't look near as impressive with his shirt off as Reche and all the other "potential" receivers we have.

[joelbolt]

I think Marty takes the input from all the position coaches before he makes these decisions.

[Shamrock]

Originally posted by: joelbolt
The Chargers have waived P Bill LaFleur, WRs Ruvell Martin, Grant Mattos and Luke Powell, RBs Doug Chapman and Calvin Murray, CB Kevin House, SS Vernon Fox, FB Phillip Crosby, C Troy Andrew, TE Joshua Norman, DEs Omari Hand and Robert Pollard.

The Chargers also placed defensive tackle Ryon Bingham on the “Reserve-Injured” list. Bingham is recovering from surgery for a torn biceps tendon.

On Monday, the team waived K Mackenzie Hoambrecker.

I was hoping Mattos would get a better shot. The first time Ricochet drops a pass, his name will come up.

I watched the Indy tape today, and Norman did make some plays. But, it seems like he always ONLY makes those plays in the middle of drives, yet makes mistakes or drops passes when they "count" (third downs, end zone, etc.)

I sure hope one of those kids at safety beats out Lassiter now that Fox has been let go. Lassiter is a dog.

I guess we'll have next year to talk about Bingham.

[Chargeroo]

Remember that some of these people could be brought back on the PT. Mattos made a great catch on a ball that was overthrown by Flutie last Friday. That's all he does, make catches.

Why is Leon Johnson not on that cut list? It's clear that he's been replaced as a return man by Welker and he's not a great RB, by any means.

The other guy on this list that I hated to see is Doug Chapman. I thought he played well when given the chance. I actually liked him more than Turner. Turner sure isn't much help at protecting the QB from a blitzing LB.

[MoveitMister]

Mattos is the hardest cut of all.
They even used this guy for draftee auditions.

I am officially bummed. i/expressions/face-icon-small-frown.gif i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif

[Chargeroo]

I guess we may never get the chance to know but I think Mattos could do well if he ever got the chance. He's sure made some nice catches in pre-season games and in TC. I know he had very little PT in college, but Gates never played at all in college and look how he's doing. If only he had Caldwell's speed or if only Caldwell had his hands! i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif

[Threadkiller]

Give me a guy like Dondre Gilliam over Dwight, Dyson, and Caldwell any day.

Gilliam was shuffled on and off the roster last year, and all he did was produce when given the opportunity. Mattos would probably do the same thing.

[joelbolt]

Come on ... Dondre Gilliam? He had the one good game when they brought him back. If it was as good, it was not good enough for 31 other teams. He was available and other team tried to pick him up. Well Tim Dwight, Eric Parker and Reche Caldwell will be back playing . Hopefully we get a get look at the WRs Thursday night. I actually thought the receivers had really good hands in camp this year. Last year it was Matos that caught everything, this year he did not stand out, actually Caldwell and Osgood had some of the better catches in camp this year. Because Caldwells past I realize he has little room for error before fans starts to jump on him. To me he is much improved now lets see if that can stay true in the regular season when the real hitting begins.

[IronMountain1960]

Originally posted by: Threadkiller
Give me a guy like Dondre Gilliam over Dwight, Dyson, and Caldwell any day.

Gilliam was shuffled on and off the roster last year, and all he did was produce when given the opportunity. Mattos would probably do the same thing.

TK, I agree, Gilliam was my favorite WR last year, he gets in one game and was basically the MVP. Mattos and Gilliam are the big reason I'm not sold on Lofton, the guy couldn't judge talent if he had too. Gilliam was great, he reminded me of Charlie Joiner. Mattos, whenever he got the chance did a great job, but no, he not as quick as Ricochet, so he goes. I hope Ricochet turns the corner, because he is a good person and does have talent, but like Norman, he seems to screw up at the worst times, and like Norman he needs to get the ax if he drops a TD or 3rd down pass. Mattos is clutch, and so was Gilliam, I would take both of them and beat the daylights out of Reche and Norman in a game. Lofton or Marty are dead wrong on the WR cuts so far.

[Threadkiller]

Originally posted by: joelbolt
Come on ... Dondre Gilliam? He had the one good game when they brought him back.

That "one good game" was the only time he was given a chance to start. How is that a negative?

And that's one more good game than Caldwell had last year.

[Shamrock]

Originally posted by: IronMountain
Lofton or Marty are dead wrong on the WR cuts so far.
As soon as Ricochet drops some balls, (and he will), this conversation will really get heated.

None of the WR's on this team stretch the defense. Why not at least have ones that can catch? It still seems like that staff is scapegoating that on Brees, but heck, they even dropped Flutie's passes en masse (2nd Denver game last year).

Wasn't it you, IM, who said it appears that our WR's believe catching the ball is "optional?" Classic .....

[IronMountain1960]

Originally posted by: Shamrock

Originally posted by: IronMountain
Lofton or Marty are dead wrong on the WR cuts so far.
As soon as Ricochet drops some balls, (and he will), this conversation will really get heated.

None of the WR's on this team stretch the defense. Why not at least have ones that can catch? It still seems like that staff is scapegoating that on Brees, but heck, they even dropped Flutie's passes en masse (2nd Denver game last year).

Wasn't it you, IM, who said it appears that our WR's believe catching the ball is "optional?" Classic .....
Yea, it was me, and it was in response to Gilliam getting cut and Ricochet getting all the playing time and dropped passes.

[Threadkiller]

Hey IM,

I didn't know you were a Gilliam fan too.

I might have to change my opinion about you. i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif

[kiwibolt]

Seems as though Pro Football Weekly shares my concerns about the WR corps...and the O-line...and the depth at D-line, etc etc etc.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/preview04/news/story?page=sdg

Interesting read...we'll see how accurate it is. I hope these guys end up eating crow on this one.

[Chargeroo]

There's a decent article in todays UT that discusses the possible cuts.

I forgot to put in the link -

http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/chargers/20040902-9999-1s2chargers.html